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Voters reject school bond

The largest bond measure in Federal Way Public Schools' history is failing in unofficial results from Tuesday's election.

In vote tabulations posted Wednesday afternoon by the King County elections department, the $245 million construction bond had received a 52.7 percent yes vote. A minimum of 60 percent was needed for the measure to pass.

The bond's proposals included tearing down and rebuilding six schools and Memorial Stadium. It also called for building a performing arts center, an environmental science center and new central facilities for the district's transportation, maintenance and food service departments.

The district estimated it would take at most 25 years to pay off the bond with property taxes. Property owners in the district currently pay $4.33 per $1,000 of assessed property. If the bond had passed, the rate would have gone up 55 cents.

School district superintendent Tom Murphy said before the election that if the bond was rejected, district officials and the School Board would try to determine voters' sentiments before deciding how much of the original measure might be placed on a later ballot.

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